What happens when there aren't enough homes?

By: Zorana Halpin
Published: February 2015

This briefing looks at one of the most shocking consequences of our housing shortage: homelessness.
The acute lack of affordable homes affects millions of us – whether we face being priced out of homeownership, are forced to pay unaffordable rents, or find ourselves with nowhere to go. But it’s the thousands of homeless children spending their childhoods in insecure, cramped accommodation, who really pay the price.
The solution to the housing crisis is simple, but won’t be easy to achieve: the government must urgently build more genuinely affordable homes, where they are needed most.

Summary

One of the most shocking consequences of our housing shortage is homelessness.

The
acute lack of affordable homes affects millions of us – whether we face being priced
out of homeownership, are forced to pay unaffordable rents, or find ourselves
with nowhere to go. But it's those at the sharp edge of the housing crisis
really pay the price.

Though you won't see families with children sleeping
on the streets last September, across England, Wales and Scotland, 93,000
children woke up homeless. They're hidden away in hostels and other types of temporary
accommodation, often without basic kitchen facilities, or knowing how long they
will be there for.

If we don't start building more affordable
homes, even more children will spend their childhoods without a settled home. The solution to
the housing crisis is simple, but won't be easy to achieve: the government must
urgently build more genuinely affordable homes, where they are needed most.